Guide

Money & Payments

36 questions.

• How does paying for things in Korea work?Use your bank card for most purchases and keep cash for smaller businesses.
• Which transit card should I get?A physical Tmoney transit card is a practical starting choice for most visitors.
• Will my own bank cards work in Korea?Bring a physical bank card and cash. Acceptance varies by merchant and payment method.
• How does the tourist tax refund work?Ask participating shops about eligibility, receipts and the steps needed to claim a refund.
• Can I tap my Visa at the subway gate?Use a Korean transit card at the subway gate, rather than your Visa.
• How do I pay for buses and the subway?Buy a transit card, load its balance and tap when entering and leaving.
• What is a Tmoney transit card?Tmoney is a rechargeable transit card used on Korean subways and many buses.
• Can I add a Tmoney transit card to my iPhone?Set up Tmoney through the Mobile Tmoney app before adding it to Apple Wallet.
• Can I top up Tmoney inside Apple Wallet with a foreign card?Use the Mobile Tmoney app's visitor option to check supported foreign cards.
• Can I top up Tmoney in the Mobile Tmoney app with a foreign card?Check which foreign cards the Mobile Tmoney app currently accepts before relying on mobile top-ups.
• Android: how do I set up a Tmoney card?Check Android compatibility before choosing a mobile transit card. Keep a physical card available.
• Can I top up a Tmoney card at a subway station?Use cash to reload Tmoney. Check which products a station machine supports before paying.
• How do I buy a physical Tmoney card?Ask for a physical Tmoney card at a convenience store and load it with cash.
• What is WOWPASS, the prepaid card for visitors?WOWPASS combines prepaid shopping payments and transit, but the two balances are separate.
• Is Seoul's Climate Card transit pass worth it?Compare the Climate Card's coverage and pass price with your planned journeys.
• Korea Tour Card (now Tmoney Travel Card) or a plain Tmoney card?Choose a plain Tmoney card unless you will use the tourist card's extra benefits.
• Getting my Tmoney or WOWPASS balance back before I flyRefund rules differ for Tmoney and WOWPASS. Check the balance, location and fee.
• Will my Tmoney card work in Busan and outside Seoul?Tmoney works beyond Seoul, but some rural and private routes require another payment method.
• Does Apple Pay work in Korea?Apple Pay acceptance varies. Bring your physical card for shops without compatible readers.
• Does Google Pay work in Korea?Do not rely on Google Pay alone. Bring a physical bank card and cash.
• Can a visitor use Samsung Pay in Korea?Samsung Wallet support depends on your phone, home country and registered payment card.
• Will my foreign card work at restaurants and shops?Try inserting your physical card. Keep cash for businesses that cannot accept it.
• Are Amex, Discover and UnionPay accepted?Visa and Mastercard are useful main cards. Other networks' acceptance varies by merchant.
• How much Korean won cash should I carry?Keep cash for markets, street food and transit top-ups. Smaller notes are easier to use.
• Where to exchange money for Korean wonCompare exchange rates and fees before changing money at an airport, bank or licensed counter.
• Which ATMs take my foreign card?Look for a Global ATM displaying your card network and check withdrawal fees.
• Do I tip at restaurants and in taxis?Tipping is generally unnecessary. Check the bill for any service charge already included.
• Why was my card declined?Try the chip, another card or another payment method, then contact your bank.
• Pay in Korean won or my own currency?Choose Korean won when offered a choice, and review the exchange fees.
• Tourist tax refund: am I eligible?Check your residence, length of stay and purchase against the tourist refund rules.
• Tax refund: immediate, downtown or airport?Use an immediate refund when eligible. Downtown refunds require additional customs checks.
• Tax refund limits: minimum receipt, caps and deadlinesCheck receipt limits, total purchase limits and export deadlines before claiming a refund.
• Downtown tax refund: the customs scan you must not missA downtown refund requires airport customs validation within its deadline. Keep the goods available.
• What's excluded from the tourist tax refundRefund exclusions and special schemes differ. Check the rules for your purchase.
• Splitting purchases to get a bigger tax refundCompare refund bands and purchase limits before combining or splitting receipts.
• Tax refund at the airport: kiosk first, then bagsComplete the refund kiosk and any customs inspection before checking in the relevant goods.